Jensen Updates

Rob:  Rob Turned 43 on The 2nd and is ITCHING to take the boat out.  Winter is not his favorite season.  On an up not for him:  We invested in garage shelving and have been placing them throughout the garages and storage room clearing up IMMENSE amounts of space and leaving the floor neat.  It's enough to brighten all of our days-- Okay, just mine and his.  But instead of the feeling of disgust that we used to get driving into the garages or getting food from the store room, we are buoyed up by its neatness and motivated to clean other hotspots throughout the house.  My craft closet, sewing closet, clothes closet, etc. are all better off for my resolve.  The more empty shelves I have, the more I want.  Is this pathological?  Don't know. Don't care. Wait, this paragraph was supposed to be about Rob.  Sorry.  Also, ROb is camping, camping, camping, with the scouts which is good for him and for Matt.

GAIL:   40 is around the corner for me-- Two weeks, in fact.  My friend and I who share the same birthday (and the same year-- how cool is that) have been talking about having the blowout of all blowouts for 3 years now.  We wanted to rent out our friend's mortuary, but that doesn't look like it's a possibility.  She is, however, planning a party.  I need to call her and get involved.
On the emotional front, I am a tad ambivalent about "The Big 4-0".  I am facing a huge realization in the last year that 1. With my running partners I am the Older, seasoned one. 2.  My kids are within 2-3 years of Dating, Driving and having to fill out college applications. 3.  I am still mothering high-needs toddlers with no end in sight.  I can't embrace my seasoned age because I still have to have the energy of a young mom to keep up with the little ones.  "Only Child Raises Six Kids" That is an epic post that needs to be written, but right now I don't have the time because children are screaming that I'm on the computer and want to be held, fed, taught to speak and to read, etc. etc. etc.. 
We took the kids skiing and I was glad my mom made me learn how cause I had some moves up there.  Next step:  replace my old puffy coat with something a little more stylish so I don't look like a grape rolling down the hill. 

AMY:  Loved skiing. Busy with school, YW, friends, Reminds me every day that she gets her learner's permit in 75,74,73 days, etc.  You get the picture.
 MAGGIE:  Honor Band, Honor Choir, Jazz Band, Getting ready to clog in Disneyland and perform in her class Play "Beauty and The Beast" as a narrator.  The girl is in constant motion.  Wish I had her energy.

MATT:  Gearing up for Baseball. Batting cages, pitching practice. Matt's a great kid.  I hope he gets on a good team with good coaches.  He has been camping a lot with the scouts since Dad is scoutmaster and has been to Klondike (snow caves) and tons of others since he turned 11.
KATIE:  Also getting ready to clog in Disneyland.  Full of sunshine and sweetness-- as always
NATE:  Reads everything and is so good at it.  He amazes us.  He would have benefitted from all-day kindergarten.  OR At least I would have.
BEN:  Ahhhhhh! Ben.  Ben is much work.  In the words of the speech therapist that visits our home every other week because he doesn't speak well (everything sort of sounds like SHOOSH-- usually interpreted as Shoes, tooth, and juice [milk in a bottle] all of which are fetishes of his) BEN is Active and PERSISTENT.  Uhhhhh! yes.  Understatement to be sure.  Euphe-speak does not begin to capture the stress and craziness that this child brings to the table.  He can't communicate very well what he wants, but HE WANTS IT!!! NOW!!!! He climbs on every table, empties every drawer of its contents, screams in protest pretty much all of the time, and loses one shoe of every pair of every member of the household on a daily basis.  We are all exhausted, frustrated, and ready to tear our hair out and at the same moment absolutely charmed by his sweetness in the good moments.  He is adored.  Go Figure.